James Barclay - Once walked with Gods

High above, on the gantry built to maintain the roof of the warehouse, were a number of skylights. Pelyn pointed up.

‘Get lengths of rope and get climbing. Our way out is not going to come to us.’

Patience wins more battles than courage and strength combined. Katyett felt as if she was going to collapse. She sensed a rush of heat across her body and deep in the pit of her stomach. Her feet tingled and her breath gasped in. Of all the things she might have expected the priest to say, that was the most inconceivable.

‘What sort of madness is that?’ she managed eventually.

She didn’t know if she was thrilled or furious. Didn’t know what to feel. But whatever it was, it had sent her pulse soaring. Takaar. The prospect of seeing him again made her shiver. Memories of his face fell through her mind so real she could grasp at them.

‘It is a chance we have to take.’

‘Who made this decision?’

‘In the rainforest there are no councils,’ said Serrin evenly.

Katyett shook her head, trying to clear the buzzing and fog that encased it.

‘You and Auum have taken this massive risk on behalf of us all?’

‘Auum is acting on my order.’

‘How will he find Takaar, assuming there is anything to find?’

Serrin smiled a little indulgently. ‘Takaar spoke to the priesthood before he went into exile.’

Katyett nodded. ‘I see.’

‘I’m sure you don’t.’

‘Don’t patronise me,’ she snapped.

‘I am sorry, Katyett. I meant no offence.’

Katyett sighed. ‘Me too, my priest. You have taken me completely unawares.’

‘It is not often I do that to a TaiGethen, least of all their leader.’

‘I just don’t understand what good this can possibly do.’

‘You say you have no way to revive the harmony if the threads separate. I’m giving you that way.’

Katyett scoffed. ‘You think he’ll be accepted like he was before? You’re out of touch, Serrin. I can’t even say all the TaiGethen will embrace him. The populace of Calaius certainly won’t. Most of them were born here and have no real knowledge of the influence and charisma he used to wield. And those that do remember, hate him for all the lives he sacrificed. Auum is wasting his time.’

‘I’m sorry you feel that way. And I think you are mistaken.’

‘Well, we’re going to find out, aren’t we? Just what exactly did you have in mind? Parading him through the streets of Ysundeneth with an honour guard of TaiGethen and any Al-Arynaar who survive that long? Or perhaps you think he might head an army to sweep the invading men and their magic from our shores. All we need now is an army.’

Serrin made to retort but thought better of it.

‘I thought you’d be pleased,’ said Serrin instead. ‘You of all people.’

Katyett almost laughed but she had no wish to insult Serrin further.

‘Takaar literally ran out of my life ten years ago, Priest Serrin. I’ve spent those ten years trying to get used to the idea that I would never see him again and that the ula I swore my loyalty to, that I loved so utterly, had failed our entire race. I had just about reached a place where I could move on, where I could consider a union with another. An Ynissul ula because my offspring must have the opportunity to join the TaiGethen.

‘I was already confused, Serrin. Proud of what Takaar achieved and hating him because his cowardice triggered all we now face. Now this. You want to bring him back. In the face of all that is sane you want an elf ten years in exile to return and save us all. It cannot work. It cannot.’

‘It cannot or you don’t want it to?’

‘That is an unworthy comment.’

Serrin contemplated her again. There was no apology in his eyes this time.

‘We must attempt every means. I do not have to see the streets of Ysundeneth to know how desperate the situation is. I have seen enough of the nature of elves to know the depths to which some will descend.’

‘Will? Some already have.’

‘Rape will seem insignificant unless we can turn the tide. I have no desire to relive some of the things I witnessed on Hausolis.’

It was easy to forget how old Serrin was. So youthful of face. So at ease in the rainforest.

‘I’ll do all I can.’

‘That has never been in doubt, Katyett.’

‘So what’s next? The rest will look to you for leadership, you know that.’

‘I am uncomfortable with the thought,’ said Serrin. ‘But I will do my best. We must do as we said. Secure the Ynissul and bring Takaar to the city.’

‘I’ll bring him,’ said Katyett. ‘He is my Arch. It is my responsibility.’

‘Not this time. I will go. I promised Auum. Don’t worry. This will work.’

Serrin kissed Katyett’s eyes and moved swiftly out of the Ultan. Katyett stared after him, wondering how in Yniss’s name she was going to relate the news to her people. Wondering if her conversation with Serrin could possibly have taken place. The door to the warehouse was forced open and elves poured in, scattering through the huge space. Pelyn almost felt sorry for them. Still Tuali and Beethan fought each other though they stood amidst plunder that would see both through the next hundred days at least.

The eighteen surviving Al-Arynaar had been quick, taking ship’s rope and climbing high into the roof of the warehouse. Ladders to the gantry had been destroyed. They were safe enough up here. Safer than in much of Ysundeneth.

‘Look at them,’ said Pelyn.

‘Just think what it’ll be like when the food really does run out,’ said Jakyn.

‘This conflict won’t last that long. And if it does, the TaiGethen will be waiting for them in the eaves of the forest.’ Pelyn shuddered at the thought. ‘Come on, let’s get back to the beetle. Methian was right. We need to muster our people. What’s left of them.’

Above their heads, two skylights had been opened and ropes laid from the gantry bars all the way down to the ground at the far end of the warehouse. Even when Pelyn had paused to spit down, none of them below had looked up. So intent were they on their prize and their hate for each other, they had not paused to wonder where their common enemy had gone.

Halfway to the beetle, she could still hear them. Pelyn kept her pace high, trotting much of the way from the packed dockside housing and only slackening off when they reached the first parades of shops and one of the minor fresh goods market squares. From here, the Gardaryn was a short walk and she slowed to listen to the sounds of the city as it grew further into wakefulness.

Rain had begun to fall, but it was light and blown like a fine mist on an onshore breeze. The sight of those sails a day or so out from the harbour entered her mind. Whoever they were, if their intent was invasion or to raid the city, they weren’t going to be facing concerted resistance. They couldn’t have timed their arrival better if they’d…

Pelyn broke into a run.

‘Come on. With me, Al-Arynaar.’

She sprinted across the square, down Sailmakers’ Row and across the deserted Park of Renewal, in which several fires still smouldered in defiance of the rain, which was falling more heavily now. She tore down Beeth’s Crescent and into the southern piazza. The Gardaryn still stood open. Her people still stood guard outside it.

‘Yniss bless us, we aren’t too late.’

Jakyn fell in beside her. ‘Arch Pelyn?’

‘Not now, Jakyn. I’ve just worked this all out. We can win this. We really can. All of you, with me. Come listen to what I have to say inside. Quickly.’

Pelyn ran up the steps and into the Gardaryn. She headed across the chamber and over the stage into the offices behind, her warriors following her. She glanced into every chamber she passed, pulling up short at the central records offices, where Methian and three other Gyalan Al-Arynaar were still sifting through the sea of papers strewn about the floor. Some semblance of order had been returned under the eye of the veteran. He looked up, surprised at her sudden appearance.